Won’t Seek State Office--Feinstein : S.F. Mayor Says She’ll Finish Term in Ruling Out ’86 Bid

San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein, penned in by friendships, uncertain opportunity and perhaps fading resolve, has quietly backed out of contention for high state office next year.

Rather than challenge powerful Democratic men for the governorship or the U.S. Senate, the 52-year-old mayor said she would finish her term of office in San Francisco. The term runs through 1987, at which time she is barred by the City Charter from seeking reelection. She declined to disclose her thoughts about her political future after that.

“I have things to do in this city and I want to see that they get done,” the San Francisco Chronicle quoted her as saying Friday.

She indicated to a reporter that her decision was final. “Not this time,” she said.

Last fall, Feinstein was a contender in Walter F. Mondale’s search for a woman as a vice presidential running mate. This, plus her city’s role as host of the 1984 Democratic National Convention, propelled the mayor into the spotlight as a national celebrity and stirred up considerable home state interest in her as a Democratic candidate for either the Senate or governor.

Her teasing answers to questions about her intentions heightened interest through the early part of this year.

Supporters believed the strong presence she conveys on television, her moderate record in office and a high interest in quality women candidates would make her a formidable challenger to veteran Democratic U.S. Sen. Alan Cranston, whose seat is up next year.

But Cranston brought to bear a generation’s worth of political IOU’s to build up his own standing for reelection and to dissuade Feinstein from an intra-party primary election challenge.

Seemed to Fade

For her part, Feinstein took few of the steps needed to enlarge her own base or build her candidacy. Gradually, she seemed to fade from serious contention. Supporters wondered if she really had the drive for an 18-month statewide campaign.

For a while, she considered jumping into the open Democratic primary for governor and the right to challenge Republican incumbent George Deukmejian. But she said in the same breath that this idea was limited by her pledge not to run if her fellow mayor and friend Tom Bradley of Los Angeles entered the race, which many observers expect him to do.

Such pledges have not held back other politicians, but Feinstein said she was adamant. At that point, the Feinstein bandwagon was rendered silent.

Among other options farther away, Feinstein has been mentioned as a possible candidate against Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Wilson in 1988. But at least one disappointed supporter who did not want to be identified said Friday that he felt Feinstein already had tipped her hand that she would not enter this race by repeatedly praising Wilson in public for his assistance on matters of concern to San Francisco.

A spokesman said she did not want to discuss the matter further.